Conjunctivitis & red eye
What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an eye condition characterized by inflammation and redness of the conjunctiva, the outer membrane of the eye. The condition is most often caused by allergies, viruses, or bacterial infection. Individuals usually experience eye redness, itchiness, and irritation. Occasionally, the eye will feel as if there is sand in it.
Severe causes of red eye that can lead to visual loss include keratitis, iritis, and acute angle-closure glaucoma. These conditions require emergent referral to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). Due to the importance of this condition, it is critical that patients understand its causes, symptoms, and treatment. By the end of this article, you will
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The conjunctiva is a translucent membrane that lines the front of the sclera and inner eyelids. The bulbar part of the conjunctiva covers the visible part of the sclera and the palpebral part of the conjunctiva covers the inner eyelids. Various factors such as environmental allergens (eg, pollen, animal dander), viruses, or bacterial infection can lead to irritation and inflammation of the conjunctiva. This causes blood vessels in the conjunctiva to dilate, ultimately resulting in eye redness (hyperemia) and discharge. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are very contagious.
How common is conjunctivitis?
In the United States, an estimated 1% of primary care visits are related to conjunctivitis. About 70% of individuals with conjunctivitis go to their primary care provider or urgent care. Advanced cases of the condition may require referral to an ophthalmology specialist, particularly if first-line treatment was unsuccessful.
Viral infection is the most common cause of conjunctivitis and is more frequent in the summer. Bacterial infection is the second most common etiology – this is responsible for approximately 50%-75% of cases in children. The most common bacterial organisms include H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Worldwide, C. trachomatis keratoconjunctivitis is responsible for up to 8% of the population. Allergic conjunctivitis occurs in about 15%-40% of cases of conjunctivitis
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Itchiness is a key distinguishing factor between allergic conjunctivitis and other forms of the disease. Individuals often have coexisting seasonal allergies and asthma.
All of these forms of conjunctivitis may result in the eyes being stuck closed in the morning.
How is conjunctivitis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of conjunctivitis is suggested based on symptoms, history, and physical examination. The diagnosis is highly suggested in an individuals with red eye and discharge who has no visual changes or evidence of keratitis, iritis, or angle closure glaucoma. These later conditions often lead to significant eye pain and loss of vision, and are considered eye emergencies that requires urgent ophthalmologic evaluation.
Your doctor will perform a detailed eye examination – this includes eye inspection, pupillary light reflex testing, extraocular movement assessment, visual acuity testing with the Snellen chart, visual field examination, and funduscopic examination. If your eyes have pus draining from them, your doctor may send a sample to the laboratory for gram stain and culture. This is normally done in individuals with recurrent or refractory cases of bacterial conjunctivitis.
How is conjunctivitis
Gas in 1968 described Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy (APMPPE) as being a condition that caused acute and rapid loss of central vision due to multiple pale lesions at the level of Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the posterior pole. (1) It is a self-limiting condition which recovers spontaneously over a three weeks period leaving residual pigment epithelial alterations.(2) The typical features in acute phase include cream colored placoid lesions at the level of RPE, early hypofluorescence and late hyperfluorescence of the lesions on Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA).(2) It is usually followed by a viral flu like prodrome in 1/3 of the patients. Neurological manifestations of APMPPE include Headaches being commonest while others are paraesthesias, vertigo, psychosis and more severe complications, Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis stroke and cerebral vasculitis.(3, 4) Association of APMPPE with systemic Vasculitis in the patients with positive perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody has been reported.(5, 6) Other systemic inflammatory diseases suggesting an underlying immune mediated or an inflammatory mechanism include erythema nodosum,(7-9) juvenile rheumatoid arthritis,(10) thyroiditis,(11, 12) nephritis,(5, 6, 13) ulcerative colitis(14) and Adenoviral infections(15) . Many granulomatous diseases have documented associations with APMPPE, including Wegener’s granulomatosis,(16-18) Pulmonary tuberculosis(19) and Sarcoidosis.
The TearLAb device allows the practitioner to monitor and supervise the tear film’s osmolarity, which is an important factor correlated with dry eye. In normal patients tear osmolarity is low and very similar to blood osmolarity (290 milliosmoles per litter). This indicates that tears are in proper homeostasis. On the other hand, dry eye patients have elevated (> 316 mOsm/L) and unstable tear osmolarity which can vary both over time and between eyes.[4]. This test is simple and quick to perform which can be easily delegated to a consultant or a technician
Loss of vision in one or both eyes
Conjunctivitis - Patient has conjunctival injection with clear watery discharge. The patient does not, however, present with typical eye crusting.
Glaucoma is a disease of the eye and it is fluid pressure within the eye rises and if the eye is left untreated the patient might lose vision or maybe even blind. But this disease is generally affects both eyes but although one of their eyes may have more severe signs or symptoms then the other eye. When you have glaucoma there are small spaces in the front of the eye and they are called anterior chamber. There is clear liquid that flows in and out of the anterior chamber and the fluid nourishes and bathes nearby the tissues. And if the patient has glaucoma the fluid dose not drain like it should drain but the fluid drains out of the eye. And this may lead to fluid build up and pressure inside the rises of the eye. Unless the pressure is brought down and controlled and the optic nerves and some of the other parts of the eye might become damaged leading to ...
Tuberculosis or TB is an airborn infection caused by inhaled droplets that contain mycobacterium tuberculosis. When infected, the body will initiate a cell-mediated hypersensitivity response which leads to formation of lesion or cavity and positive reaction to tuberculin skin test (Kaufman, 2011). People who have been infected with mycobacteria will have a positive skin test, but only ones who have active TB will show signs and symtoms. Basic signs and symptoms include low grade fever, cough with hemoptysis, and tachypnea. They may also show pleuristic chest pain, dyspnea, progressive weight loss, fatigue and malaise (Porth, 2011).
What are these red patches of skin on my body that I can’t ever help from scratching? It is eczema, which is defined as a medical condition in which patches of skin become inflamed, with blisters that cause itching and bleeding. Genetics take a role in the possibility of having eczema, after comes the diagnosis, then being prescribed the treatment needed, and lastly their prognosis.
Meningitis, it’s an infection in the cerebral spinal fluid and inflammation of the meninges; the three outer layers of the brain. To be more specific, those three layers are called the Dura mater, Arachnoid mater, and the Pia mater. There are three main types of meningitis that will be discussed throughout this paper; viral, bacterial, and fungal. Each form is very similar but they all vary in terms of causative organisms, treatment and severity. Although meningitis is not very common, it can become very severe and always needs to be treated immediately.
Many signs include a "white pupil," also known as leukocoria. Retinoblastoma can occur in either one or two eyes (Paul T. Finger, Pg. 1). This abnormal white pupillary reflex is sometimes referred to as a cat's eye reflex. Another sign of retinoblastoma is a crossed eye (Ambramson, Ch3). Leukocoria doesn't always end up as being retinoblastoma, it can even result in: congenital cataract, Toxocara canis, Coat's disease, and persistent hypertrophic primary vitreous (PHPV) (Finger, Pg.2). Retinoblastoma occurs when there's a mutation or deletion of the q14 band of chromosome 13 (Finger, Pg. 1). Symptoms can be painful if not treated quickly. Some include a red, painful eye, swelling of the surrounding eye, poor vision, dilated pupil, even extra fingers or toes, and retardation (Ambramson, Ch3).
They can infect any of the four sinuses that we have in our facial area. When they infect the sinuses, we call it sinusitis. The infections cause pronounced trouble to a patient. A patient suffering from sinus infection encounter a lot of symptoms such as headache, nasal blockage, pain in the facial regions, swollen face, irritation and many others. If you too had been suffering from such symptoms, now it is time you get rid of a sinus infection
In checking for glaucoma, your doctor will want to know if any members of your family have had the illness. Then they will also ask whether you have noticed any recent changes in your peripheral vision. After asking about your family health history, your doctor will look for the symptoms of acute glaucoma.
Imaging tests. Imaging tests usually aren’t necessary, but in some instances, especially when no evidence of infection is found, They may be helpful. For example, an X-ray or ultrasound may help out other potential causes inflammation, such as a tumor or structure
Bacterial Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye”, is one of the most well-known and treatable eye infections for both children and adults. The name was chosen because it is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelids. It is commonly called “pink eye” because of the red color of the eye from irritation and was described as such.
In its more common from, color blindness is the inability to distinguish between reds and greens.Persistent headaches, blurred vision, and painful inflammation of the eyelids are symptoms that may indicate serious eye disorders. Particles lodged in the eye should be removed without delay. Glasses are prescribed to strengthen vision and to reduce strain and fatigue.